I'm noticing my t-shirts are shrinking after a wash/dry (washer, Lowes)
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Stop buying 100% cotton or else get a size too large.
Wash in cold or at least no more than warm water.
Use moderate heat in the dryer but more importantly, take them out when they are still slightly damp - the wrinkles should be gone at that point - don't let them go until they are bone dry.
The more they shrink the bigger the shirt I buy next time. I can elaborate more as soon as I finish this piece of pecan pie with ice cream on top, and drink this tumbler of egg-nog.
There is a difference in t-shirts. Try a different maker and quality level. The fabric is supposed to be pre-shrunk, but if you were competing to sell thousands for the lowest price to Wal-mart, what would be the first thing you would be tempted to do?
I remember in the 1970s when a long t-shirt could become a crop top after a few washings because of the way they had the knit made in the sock machine. (Look for missing side seams to see if you are wearing a giant sock.)
If your tees are cheap they will shrink some, probably. Here's what I do to minimize shrinkage: I dry my tees for 15-20 minutes on the perma press setting, setting the dryer timer. I pull the shirts out after the 20 minutes and hang on a hanger to finish air drying. I treat my washable sweaters the same, but wash them on the delicate cycle.
I also think it is best to wash tees in cold water. But I think it is the dryer heat that shrinks them.
I notice that my shirts keep shrinking as I grow older and fatter.
How should I change my washer settings?
haha. This had me cracking up.
As for the OP, drying clothes in the machine always wrecks clothes. Think about how when you empty your lint trap. Where do you think all that 'lint' comes from? It is your clothes breaking down. If you want to keep your clothes in top shape and prevent shrinkage, you are better off hand washing and air drying all of your clothes. Or you can just deal with the fact that you will have to replace TShirts every so often.
I found this thread because I am so annoyed with this also. I really prefer cotton -- when I wear all polyester dress shirts I am hot and miserable. I would just like to find a good women's t-shirt that does not shrink in length especially. I have also noticed "mystery spots" in the last few years. I take them out of the washer and there is a spot on them the same color as the shirt?? I cannot get them out. I am so frustrated with needing to continually buy shirts because they are all ruined. I have been hanging my shirts to dry, but then they are wrinkly.
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